An Education

After spending an afternoon grading papers, I’m finally feeling like a real teacher. A frazzled, uncertain teacher, but a teacher nonetheless. There are certain components to my GA position that I am finding very rewarding. I like getting questions and clarifying things in new ways. I like learning things from my students and being surprised by their insights. I like seeing the art through fresh eyes. I also find it a bit intimidating to be responsible for the grades of these people and take that responsibility very seriously, which is why it took me two hours to grade 8 exhibition reviews.

In the midst of my enlightenment about the GA experience is a looming cloud on the horizon. After submitting my application for a spring assistantship (I am still leaning towards working in the Bunting Visual Resources Library, but that is in no way guaranteed) on Friday I attended a letter-writing campaign meeting to protest the proposed budget cuts to our department and the contingent cuts of approximately half our GA/TA/RA positions. In other words, this may be the first and last semester I have the experience of teaching.